Forest Hills Mugger Used Stolen Cards At UES Market, Police Say

FOREST HILLS, NY — A robber held a man at gunpoint for his wallet and cellphone in Forest Hills Wednesday morning before using his credit cards at an Upper East Side market, police said.

The unidentified mugger approached the man on 70th Avenue near 108th Street around 5:35 a.m., brandished a gun and demanded his property, the NYPD said.

The victim, 59, handed over his cellphone and wallet, which held four credit cards and $200 in cash, and the robber fled south on 70th Avenue, police said.

The mugger spent about $12 on the man's stolen credit cards at B&B Gourmet Market in Manhattan about an hour later, police said. Surveillance video captured him at the Lexington Avenue store, according to the NYPD.

The thief tried to make another unauthorized purchase with the man's credit cards at the Harlem Smoke Shop and Deli on Lenox Avenue later that morning, police said.

Police are still looking for the alleged mugger, who is described as a dark-skinned man in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with red lettering on the front, black sweatpants, black sneakers and a red du-rag, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident can call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-577-8477 or 1-888-577-4782 to leave a tip in Spanish. New Yorkers can also text tips to 274637 or submit them online at nypdcrimestoppers.com.

(Lead image: Police say this man mugged another man in Forest Hills Wednesday morning and used his credit cards at an Upper East Side market. Photo and video courtesy of the NYPD)